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Chat transcript: Bob Miller

Chat transcript: Bob Miller

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bob_miller: Welcome everyone. Thanks
for stopping by and asking questions. Let's get started.

mooose23: Just wondering when you guys are going to give Frazier the
call?

bob_miller: Todd Frazier has been
doing great at AA. He's currently hitting .332 and had a great May. We also
have Chris Heisey at AA hitting .384. Mix in Cozart, Francisco, Alonso, etc. etc. and we hope to see a
bunch of those guys in the majors in the near future.

cedwards38: Is Matt Maloney going to get a shot at starting a game
for the Reds soon?

bob_miller: Matt has been on a roll
and currently has a 2.00 ERA in AAA. Both him and Homer have pitched well, and
mix in Ramirez, and we feel any of those 3 can come up and help us.

grf1212: Why hasn't Bray been moved to the 60-day DL to free a spot
on the 40-man roster? Is there a chance he will be back in the next 2 months?

bob_miller: Bray is actually on the
minor league disabled list and not the Major League disabled list. To put him
on the 60-day at the Major League level we would have to recall him and place
him on the Major League DL. Then he would get Major League service, which would
make him a free agent a year earlier, which wouldn't make sense. Bill is out
for the rest of this year and we hope he'll be ready for Spring Training next year.

cincyreds7: What do you think about the return of Encarnacion,
and will he get 3rd base back?

bob_miller: That is Dusty's call, but Edwin has been a run producer for us the
past 3 years and adds another power RH bat to the lineup.

shimo6242_3: If the Reds were in the pennant race come trading
deadline, will you add that right-handed bat?

bob_miller: I think we would try to
make ourselves better. Who knows what we might need 2 months from now, with
injuries, minor leaguers coming up, etc.?

irish05: Will the Reds be primarily looking at left-handed starters
in this year's Draft?

bob_miller: Every team looks for LH
pitching in the Draft and the good ones tend to go early.

nichols629: What is the status of Juan Duran?

bob_miller: Juan had some minor knee
surgery in March and is back playing in extended spring. Both he and Yorman Rodriguez will play in the GCL this year.

lnate5: Will the organization continue the philosophy of drafting the
best available player in the upcoming Draft?

bob_miller: Always. You never know
what positions you might need 3-5 years from now when this
crop of draftees make the majors. Having a surplus in a certain area can
help you get positions you might have a shortage in too.

christ211: Will the organization be willing to give up Homer Bailey,
Matt Maloney, or other major prospects at the trade deadline to acquire a big
name?

bob_miller: We'll make any trade if
it makes sense, but we also have to look for the future years and not just the
last 2 months of one season.

lnate5: Are there worries concerning Jay Bruce's recent struggles?

bob_miller: Nope. He's 22!

branphill:
I have seen Neftali Soto play a bunch in Dayton, and he is my
favorite prospect; however, you don't hear too much about him. Is this just
because he is still so young?

bob_miller: Yes, it is his age. Soto
started slow in the Florida State League but is now hitting .274. He is very
young and is one of our best hitting prospects.

Jim_Misudek: How are the Reds still
managing to win games with all the recent injuries? It looks like a M*A*S*H unit out there.

bob_miller: Pitching and defense has
helped, but a lot of it stems from the attitude of the locker room and the
feeling that they can win no matter what. It's a scrappy bunch, and they have
all contributed and continue to pick one another up when it counts.

lnate5: What are your thoughts on Interleague play?

bob_miller: I like it, but I think
we should only play our natural rival 3 games instead of 6.

gmonster78: How close are we to seeing Drew Stubbs in the bigs?

bob_miller: Drew is playing great
and knocking on the door.

Jim_Misudek: What is your take on
the Nate McLouth trade?

bob_miller: Good for both sides. Atlanta gets the
immediate help, and the Pirates get the prospects and a place for McCutcheon to
play in their outfield.

lnate5: When will you be promoted to General Manager?

bob_miller: I guess I know my wife's
user name online now. Thanks for asking honey. I'll be home at 6 tonight!

bigbok_2: What is your projection on if/when Yonder Alonso will make
it to the big leagues?

bob_miller: 100% believe that he
will make the majors. Time is impossible to predict, but sooner than later
would be my guess.

redsgolfer:
If in pennant contention, would a lefty starter be on the agenda?

bob_miller: Not if the lefty isn't
better than the righties we have.

lnate5: Nine of the Reds' top 10 prospects (as ranked by Baseball America) are
hitters. What do you think is at the root of that imbalance?

bob_miller: One, I think it takes
longer for pitchers to develop. Two, we have a lot of great hitters. Three,
pitchers are much more likely to get injured.

lnate5: How difficult is it to develop and carry out a trade? I think
us fans have the misconception that it is an easy process.

bob_miller: It generally takes a
long time. Fans usually have a deal in mind that sounds great to them, but if
it sounds so great to our fans, why would the other team want to do it? Fans
can sometimes forget the economics of trades too. Unless we start getting some
TARP money from the government, we always have a budget concern.

ChuckX182: Have the Reds been in talks with Tom Glavine at all?

bob_miller: He just got released
last night, so no.

Hubcap1963: With Alex Gonzalez's struggles at the plate, have there
been discussions about trading for another SS?

bob_miller: One of the reasons our
pitching has improved this year is because of our improved defense, which Alex
is a huge part of.

matttan7: Will there be trades made to improve the team's chances of
making the postseason?

bob_miller: Right now we just have
to get healthy. If we do that, we'll be adding Votto,
Volquez and Encarnacion
without losing any players to trades. I would like us to be healthy for 30 days
and see how we do.

bob_miller: Last question....

lnate5: Can Ryan Hanigan be a future,
everyday starter for this club?

bob_miller: I think Ryan has a great
future and could be an everyday starter. But right now, I'm
loving the versatility and the play of both Ryan and Ramon.

bob_miller: Thanks again for joining
the chat. Make sure you come out this weekend so we don't have to listen to the
Cubs fans. See you next month.